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| Biosphere Reserve Information | ||||
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ARCHIPELAGO SEA AREA |
 © Photo: Martin Öhman |
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| General Description |
Situated in the Province of Turku and Pori in southwestern Finland, this biosphere reserve comprises terrestrial and marine habitats such as coniferous forests, wood meadows, heaths, rocky meadows, rocky or sandy islets, arable land, seashores and open sea areas. The Archipelago Sea National Park, which represents the core area of the biosphere reserve, differs in many aspects from other Finish national parks since it comprises traditional landscape with grazing and hay-cutting activities as well as fishing and hunting activities. It was established in order to protect the natural environment and culture of the Archipelago Sea, to safeguard the traditional ways of utilizing natural resources, to protect a living community and to promote environmental research and interest in nature. With the establishment of the biosphere reserve, a buffer zone and transition area now surrounds the national park in order to pave the way for a sustainable development of the Archipelago Sea area. About 1,200 people live permanently within the biosphere reserve, which receives about 200,000 visitors annually (1991). A number of sustainable development projects are carried out, supported by research activities and exchange of experiences in the international network of biosphere reserves. The Archipelago Sea Biosphere Reserve is coordinated by the Southwest Finland Regional Environment Center, carrying out development and research projects in cooperation with various partners (e.g. rural communities and individuals, Regional Council of Southwest Finland, the Archipelago Area Development Center, Abo Akademi, The University of Turku and the Forest and Park Service). Projects include the creation of village plans to support sustainable development, the support of sustainable leisure fishing and sustainable tourism in the Archipelago Sea area. |
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| Major ecosystem type | Temperate broadleaf forests or woodlands; Brackishwater archipelago | |||
| Major habitats & land cover types | Coniferous forests characterized by Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris), spruce (Picea abies) and birch (Betula pubescens); mull-soil forest with spruce, birch and aspen (Populus tremula), characterized by alder (Alnus glutinosa), ash (Fraxinus excelsior) or oak (Quercus robur) and hazel (Corylus avellana); wood meadow including Ranunculus acris, R. auricomus, Dianthus deltoides etc.; field, heath and rocky meadow with Cladonia spp., Empetrum nigrum, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi; rocky treeless islets with Allium schoenoprasum, Tripleurospermum maritimum, Cochlearia danica etc.; sandy islets with Urtica dioica, Sedum acre, Fragaria vesca etc.; seashore supporting Angelica sylvestris, A. archangelica litoralis, Isatis tinctoria, Linaria vulgaris, Festuca polesica, Carex spp. etc.; Baltic marine area with species such as Fucus vesiculosus, Cladophora glomerata, Furcellaria etc.; agroecosystems with rye, barley, sugarbeet etc.; forestry ecosystems with Scots pine and spruce | |||
| Location | 60°N; 22°E | |||
| Area (hectares) | ||||
| Total | 420,000 | |||
| Core area(s) | 48,000 (of which marine: 45,000) | |||
| Buffer zone(s) | 232,000 (of which marine: 218,000) | |||
| Transition area(s) when given | 140,000 (of which marine: 121,000) | |||
| Altitude (metres above sea level) | -105 to +50 | |||
| Year designated | 1994 | |||
| Administrative authorities | Southwest Finland Regional Environment Centre (in charge) reporting for the Ministry of Environment | |||
| Last updated: 4/14/2009 |
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